Sprinkler head



March 1, 1932. w. w BOWERS SPRINKLER HEAD Filed Aug. 22, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM W. BOWERS, O1 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HERBERT 8. JACK, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN SIPRINKLEIt HEAD This invention relates to lawn sprinkling systems and more particularly to a construction and arrangement of discharge nozzle for use in connection with such systems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge nozzle particularly adapted for use in connection with lawn sprinkling systems and which nozzle is simple in con- Struction and eflicient in operation, the construction providing an extended spread of the spray so that each nozzle will Water a wide area, and will operate automatically to open and close the nozzle and will be operated by water pressure to project the nozzle above the ground surface and will be retracted when pressure is turned off, to lie flush with ground surface where it will not interfere with the mowing of the lawn. A further object is to provide a nozzle arrangement whereby a stream of comparativel large volume is directed through the discharge opening of the nozzle and in passing, is divided into minute Streams, which streams are in turn deflected outwardly, forming an annular wall of water of extended diameter, each small stream having sufficient body and force to cause a wide spread after striking a conical deflector properly located in the path of said streams. A further object is to provide a construction which is such that a minimum retardation of the water in issuing from the nozzle, is se-- cured, thereby securing a maximum force to the released water and at the same time securing a finely divided spra of maximum area. Further, to provide a sel cleaning nozzle, the cleaning effect being due to the volume of the stream issuing from the discharge opening and due to the construction, the small degree of necessary restriction of this opening in order to secure the desired spray or mist effect and spread- With the above and other-ends in view, the invention resides in the construction, arrange ment and combination of parts, all as hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section through a device illustrative of an embodiment of the invention and showing the valve open;

Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts shown in 1noperat1ve position and the valve closed;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections 11 on the ines 33 and 4-4 respectively, of igure Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a further modified construction; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through another form of the device.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanymg drawings, the device comprises a tubular casing head 1 provided with internal screwthreads at its lower end so that it may be screwed upon the upper end of a stand pipe 2 forming part of the underground water supply system, the upper end of said casing being provided with a wide circular flange 3, which, when the device is installed, lies flat upon the surface of the ground, and is also formed with an inwardly projecting rib 4 and an exterior grove 5 in its upper end. With- 1n the casing 1 and free to slide therein and r be projected through the open upper end of the casing, is atubular nozzle head 6, said head being formed with an outstanding annular flange 7 to engage beneath the rib 4 and limit the outward movement of the head under the influence of water pressure within the casing 1. The nozzle head is tubular but has an upper end wall 8 provided with an axial water discharge opening 9, the circular wall of which is formed with grooves 10 with alternating ribs providing a toothlike edge for the discharge opening, and within this nozzle head, a spreader 11 is rigidly secured by means of laterally extending arms 12, said spreader having a conical lower end 13 below the spider in the axis of the head and a beveled shoulder 14 at its upper end.

A stem 15 is screwed into an axial screwthreaded opening in the upper end of the spreader and extends axially through the discharge opening 9 with a conical deflector head 16 integral with its outer end with the conical lower face of the head directly opposite the discharge opening so that water passing through said opening and divided into separate small streams by the grooves 10 in the wall of the opening, w ich grooves extend arallel with the axis of the head and there ore direct these streams directly outward so that they will impinge directly upon said conical face and be deflected outwardly thereby.

The deflector head 16 is also formed with an edge flange 17 to engage within the groove 5 of the cas1n 1 when the water ressure is turned off an the nozzle head an deflector fall, said deflector thus forming a cap or closure to tightly close the upper open end of the casing 1, and exclude dirt from the interior of the device when not in use, the upper surface of the deflector lying flush with the upper surface of the flange 3 on the casing 1, so that a lawn mower may pass over the 20 device without injury.

The discharge opening between the stemv 15 and wall of the opening may be of considerable area to permit of the passage therethrough, of a comparatively large volume of water, and as the passage through the nozzle head is not materially restricted, the water will be forced through this opening under substantially full pressure, the conical spreader 11 not materially hindering the flow. Any obstruction which may get into the nozzle head will, therefore be quickly forced out through the open discharge opening due to the volume and pressure of the water forced therethrough when the water is turned on. Further, beyond the discharge opening there is nothing to block the forcing out of the obstruction as the deflector is positioned a considerable distance outwardly from the point where the water leaves the nozzle head, said deflector simply providing a deflecting surface to change the direction of travel of the large number of small streams into which the flow is divided in passing through the grooves 10 which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head.

Because the discharged stream is broken up or divided into a number of small streams, the force or pressure of each stream is maintained and when these streams strike the deflector, they strike with great force and are simply deflected from their true course which is parallel of the axis of the discharge opening. Therefore these streams will be pro jected to a much greater distance than they could be if given a spiral motion or if the discharge opening be restricted very materially, which restriction would cut down the force.

These streams in striking the conical deflector are simply spread, forming a conical thin wall of water which will cover a large area due to the fact that the flow is mainly diverted from its true course rather than restricted.

In Figure 5 of the drawings a modified construction is shown in that a tubular member 20 is substituted for the spreader 11, said member supporting the conical deflector 21 with an annular space 22 between the face of the cone and a similar surface formed on the end wall of the nozzle head 6, the upper end of which head is provided with an annular rib 23 which forms a stop to engage the upper face of the casing flange 3. The tubular fixed member 20 is also formed with lateral openings 24 to permit the water to flow therethrough, an axial conical projection 25 on the inner side of the end wall of the member serving to direct the water through these openings 24. The wall of discharge opening 9 around the stem of the deflector is formed with grooves 10 the same as in the previously described construction, these grooves being straight grooves extending parallel with the axis of the head.

In Figure 6 a construction is shown wherein the casing head 1 is dispensed with, a tubular nozzle head 26 is screwed directly upon the end of a stand pipe of the system, this head being formed with a discharge opening 27 in its upper end, the wall of said opening being serrated or grooved as at 28 and also formed with a seat 29 for a conical valve 30, the stem of which passes through the discharge opening and is connected at its inner end with a spreader member 31 of conical form carried by a spider 32 which is slidable within the nozzle head, being limited in its upward movement by a shoulder 33 on the head wall. When the water pressure is off, the spreader and its spider will drop, bringing the conical deflecting valve member 30 to its seat 29 and closing the discharge opening. When water pressure is turned on, the deflector 30 will be lifted away from its seat and the minute streams formed by the grooves 28, will strike the conical head 30 and be de flected outwardly.

The construction shown in Figure 7 is very similar to the construction shown in Figure 5, except that the upper end of the nozzle head 6 is formed with a cup 33 having a serrated edge 34 and on the stem 15 within the cup is a double conical deflector 35 and a closure disk 36 is formed on the upper end of said stem, said disk being spaced from the upper edge of the cup, and of greater diameter than the cup and head so that when the head drops into the casing, said disk will seat upon and close the upper open end of the casing. Water passing through the tubular fixed member 20, passes out around the stem 15 through the discharge opening and striking the deflector 35 is deflected outwardly against and over the serrated edge of the cup, being divided into fine streams thereby and spread out over a large area of ground.

Obviously the operation of the several constructions shown, is substantially the same in each, and other modifications falling within the terms of the appended claim are contemplated. Havin thus fully described my invention, what I c aim is The combination with a tubular casing having an open upper end, a tubular nozzle head slidable in sald casing, said head having an axial discharge opening in its upper on and an internal annular shoulder, a spreader in the axis of said nozzle head and slidable lon itudinally thereof and comprising a cylin rical body having a downwardly pro'ecting contracted lower end and a contracted upper end, said body having arms extendin radially therefrom to enga e the wall of sai head and guide said spreader therein and to engage said annular shoulder of said head for limiting the upward movement of said spreader, a stem extending from said upper contracted end of said spreader and through said discharge opening in the upper end of said head, and a deflector on said stem spaced from said discharge opening by said stem and presenting a conical deflecting surface to the water issuing from said discharge openmg.

In testimony whereof I aifix my. signature.

WILLIAM W. BOWERS. 

